Boutique Offer - Urgent

Currently I work in commercial banking but I recently received an offer to join a boutique IB firm (~10 people). The issue is that the offer seemed extremely low. Base 60k. Bonus of at least 5. No sign on. Deal flow varies but not anything to write home about. The experience seems like it could solid.

Is it ridiculous to even consider this offer? Should I counter? I'm guaranteed to make at least what they are offering at my current position.

17 Comments
 

Take the offer. You are thinking about this the wrong way. If you want to get into banking and this boutique offers the same as what you are making, this should be a no-brainer.

Look at the Lateral Guide thread that I posted yesterday. Boutiques are not going to pay you anywhere near what MM, BB, or EB firms pay. Their fees are smaller and the MDs know that most of their applicants have no real alternative. $60,000 is pretty good for a boutique. You can always put in a year at this boutique and then lateral.

 

Ya I figure this is my shot to break in. I just thought it would be a bit higher. Worth negotiating at all? And slightly different question...would the start date be negotiable at all?

Also I read your lateral guide. Great thread.

 
Best Response
"bizcents12"

Ya I figure this is my shot to break in. I just thought it would be a bit higher. Worth negotiating at all? And slightly different question...would the start date be negotiable at all?

Also I read your lateral guide. Great thread.

I would just take it. The only reason that you are even considering negotiating is because you read WSO and know how much larger banks pay. If this was any other job (i.e. one without a forum dedicated to it), you would take it without thinking twice.

I am not sure about the start date. That is definitely something that you can try negotiating without looking bad. When I started at my boutique, they were pretty strict with the start date.

 

As others have said, do not negotiate. You have no bargaining power, so I'm not sure what led you to think you can negotiate anything besides the start date.

 

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